October 15 2023

Frankie Kim / General

Basic Christianity / Creation / Genesis 1:1

God’s work of Creation

1. We've covered the same topics, from children to adults, following the guidelines. We've been rethinking the fundamentals of Christianity. On the first and second Sundays, we discussed God and His characteristics. God is alive, loving, all-powerful, self-sufficient, and omnipresent. Do you believe that God is with you right now? Whether we're aware of it or not, God is certainly with us, not because of our perception, but because of Jesus Christ. Regardless of our experiences, God hears our prayers and does His work. Let's take a moment to close our eyes and reflect on God's love. God is always good. He has been with us, caring for us with His kindness. So we can confess our faith to the Lord. God is our Father and Lord. He saved us through His works which is Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. And Jesus fulfilled God's promise and work through His sacrifice on the Cross and His Resurrection from the dead.

2. Today's topic is God's Creation. When discussing God's Creation, we often compare it to the concept of evolution. We also use the Creation story as a defense against evolutionism, and that's certainly a valid approach. However, today, I'd like to steer our focus away from that and explore a different aspect of the Creation story. Let me read several verses.

Genesis 1:1 NKJV

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Exodus 19:1–2 NKJV

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.

Numbers 1:1 NKJV

Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:

Deuteronomy 1:1–3 NKJV

These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him as commandments to them,

3. The first book of the Bible, Genesis, contains the Creation story. When you read the introduction to Genesis, most study Bibles claim that Moses, who led the Israelites during the Exodus, wrote the first five books of the Old Testament. Although there's no direct evidence of this authorship, it's a reasonable belief because Moses received God's commandments and messages in the wilderness. The verses I've read support this idea. If Moses indeed wrote these five books, it raises questions about why he wrote them and why he included the Creation story. Let's discuss the first question: why did Moses write the five books?

I grew up in a non-Christian family, so I had no knowledge or understanding of God and Christianity until I met Jesus at the age of 22. It was challenging for me to grasp God's work through Jesus because I lacked personal experiences with Jesus and Christianity, even though I had some knowledge of the Bible. This is because learning or education requires a mix of accurate knowledge and real-life experiences. With this concept, we can think about Moses’ intention when he wrote the five books.

If Moses indeed wrote the first five books, he probably wrote them in Midian after fleeing from Egypt or in the wilderness following the exodus. However, he didn't have an encounter with God in Midian until God appeared to him through the burning bush. Without such an encounter, it is a reasonable thought that he might not have had a deep understanding of God, which is why he asked, "Who is God?"

Exodus 3:1–2 NLT

One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.

Exodus 3:3 NLT

“This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

Exodus 3:13 MSG

Then Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, ‘The God of your fathers sent me to you’; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What do I tell them?”

Exodus 3:14 MSG

God said to Moses, “I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, ‘I-AM sent me to you.’ ”

4.  Let us think of the background. The Israelites began living in Egypt when their ancestors moved there due to a famine in Canaan. They spent approximately 430 years in Egypt. If we estimate a generation as roughly 30 years, this would translate to around 13 to 15 generations during their time in Egypt.

I'm an immigrant in Canada, and I've met many immigrants in Toronto. The second generation often faces challenges when it comes to their identity. They struggle to fully embrace either Korean or Canadian identity. However, I consider myself blessed because Choah who is a second generation in Canada doesn't face this problem. When she explained her identity to her teachers at Norquay school, she simply stated that she was made in Korea, moved to Canada, and unpacked in Calgary. Nevertheless, it's important to acknowledge that it's easy for all of us to forget things.

Just last Friday, The Soup Haven reminded me about some forgotten chairs in storage. They had been there for quite some time. I had been bringing chairs from the sanctuary to the fireside room whenever I needed them because I did not know the stored chairs. It was forgotten for a while. This situation highlights how easily we can forget something when it's not in our sight. It reminds me how Israel forgot God and His work for them in the Promised Land.

Judges 3:1–3 NIV

These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

Judges 3:4–6 (NIV)

They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses. The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

5. This situation vividly illustrates how the people forgot and abandoned God when they were in the land of Canaan. Consequently, Moses believed it was crucial to pass on God's messages to the Israelites, particularly to the younger generations in the Promised Land. Deuteronomy comprises three sermons delivered by Moses, in which he imparts essential teachings and guidance.

Deuteronomy 31:9–11 NLT

So Moses wrote this entire body of instruction in a book and gave it to the priests, who carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and to the elders of Israel. Then Moses gave them this command: “At the end of every seventh year, the Year of Release, during the Festival of Shelters, you must read this Book of Instruction to all the people of Israel when they assemble before the Lord your God at the place he chooses.

Deuteronomy 31:12–13 NLT

Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions. Do this so that your children who have not known these instructions will hear them and will learn to fear the Lord your God. Do this as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.”

Deuteronomy 32:7 (NKJV)

“Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you:

Deuteronomy 32:8–9 (NKJV)

When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.

6. From this passage, we can understand why Moses began writing about the Creation. In the ancient Near East (ANE), all nations believed that the world was created by gods. There was no big controversial about Creation. For instance, the Egyptians believed that Rah, the god of the sun, was responsible for creating the world. Therefore, those who lived in Egypt would naturally consider Rah as their supreme deity. Moses aimed to teach the Israelites that Rah was not their god; rather, Elohim, the God of Creation, was their God. He wanted to emphasize that Elohim, the God of Creation, was their origin and ultimate destination. This God created them and redeemed them from Egypt. To demonstrate His power and identity, God presented the ten plagues to the Israelites, allowing them to experience who Elohim truly was.

Deuteronomy 8:11 MSG

Make sure you don’t forget God, your God, by not keeping his commandments, his rules and regulations that I command you today.

7. When I reflect on my childhood, I used to perceive it as a difficult and unhappy time. However, when I studied the Introduction to the Counselling at the university, I came to understand that my family had issues. According to the terminology of the American Psychological Association, my mother's behavior could be categorized as a form of child abuse. The circumstances I grew up in left me feeling persistently depressed and shame. And these depression and shame brought guilt in me. As I mentioned earlier, my journey with the Bible began after a three-day prayer meeting, where I aimed to learn more about Jesus. When I finally opened the Bible and started reading the first chapter, I could not move to the next chapter for a moment. The very first verse posed a significant obstacle that momentarily prevented me from turning the page.

Genesis 1:1 AMP

IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth.

8. This one verse encapsulates my emotions and circumstances perfectly. It might seem unusual because it was not related to any psychological terms. The verse did not explain anything to me. However, when I sought understanding from God regarding my situation and feelings, I didn't receive a detailed explanation but I realized God directed me to this verse. In that verse, God conveyed that He had formed and created me, just as He had created the heavens and the earth. He assured me that He would prepare the path for my life, much like how He had made all the necessary preparations for humanity before creating Adam and Eve. Surprisingly, this one verse provided me with strength and encouragement. This newfound spiritual strength enabled me to read the Bible cover to cover three times within just six months.

9. We often believe that gaining a deeper understanding of God can bring us hope and foster a strong relationship with Him. Undoubtedly, having knowledge about God is valuable, but sometimes we become overly fixated on acquiring information. It's important to remember that a connection with God, like any relationship, doesn't always begin with knowledge but with a spark of inspiration. When I first encountered God, I didn't possess extensive knowledge, but God revealed Himself to me through a single verse, Genesis 1:1. This revelation was like the spark that led Moses to see God in the burning bush. Similarly, when I first met Minju, I didn't have any prior knowledge about her, but there was a powerful spark that ignited the beginning of our relationship.

10. That's why the Creation story holds a unique place in my faith, far beyond being a counterpoint to evolutionism. It represents God Himself to me. The narrative of Creation serves as the spark that ignites my connection with God. I believe in the almighty and all-powerful God with a magnificent plan designed specifically for me. I trust that God has already paved the way for me, even when I may not realize it in my day-to-day life. Consequently, Creation is a manifestation of God's predestination and foreknowledge tailored to my journey. It lays the groundwork for my personal will and decision-making. The act of Creation, undertaken by God, forms the lens through which I comprehend His work within me and in the world, offering insights into His character, His divine plan, and His ongoing actions.

Ephesians 1:3–5 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

Ephesians 1:6–8 NIV

to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

Ephesians 1:9–10 NIV

he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11. Hope can be found in God. It's in Him that we discover our guidance and the illumination we need for the path ahead. We draw strength from the Word of God, and He is the source of our direction and knowledge. In God, we find the light for our journey, and there is no darkness in Him. He is the very essence of salvation, and as a result, we can offer our praises for His love and His work in our lives!